The UK says other countries are trying to "steal" research data pertaining to treating Covid-19. What in the world does that mean?

The article actually says "steal research", but research is an activity; there is no way to "steal" such a thing. The thing that can be stolen is data. But why would there be an occasion to do that, in research about Covid-19? Is the UK keeping the results of its research secret? That would be unconscionable!

Publish your data, UK, and then you won't have to worry about anyone's "stealing" it.